Therapy Dog Breeds Student Success
From Puerto Rico to Mechanic Falls, Nova the 38-pound rescue dog, had a remarkable journey from stray left homeless after Hurricane Maria to classroom therapy dog at Elm Street School in teacher Rebekah Bilodeau’s classroom.
“I’ve always been interested in having therapy dogs to come in for the kids to read to, and when I got Nova I saw how calm she was, so I went forward with the process of training her,” explained Bilodeau.
The 8-month training was an extensive process. Nova was required to perform 10 different tasks including walking through a crowd of people without acknowledging them, remaining calm during a loud noise, and sitting and staying on command.
When Nova passed each test, Bilodeau received permission from her school principal to begin a once weekly visit with Nova at the school. Once a week turned daily when the teachers and administrators saw how much of an impact Nova had on the entire school community.
“It’s incredible. I had students who didn’t want to come to school, they were truant, and they come to school now,” said Bilodeau.
Nova has a home in the classroom, a bed in the corner near Bilodeau’s desk, and while she spends time resting there, she also makes her way to the learning spaces, snuggling up on the reading rug or lying down under the team table.
“Nova makes me feel happier, she makes me feel comfortable and safe. Nova helped make it easier to come to school after the pandemic,” said fourth grade student, Riley.
While “on duty” and wearing her therapy dog vest at the school, Nova knows she is in work mode. She doesn’t bark, doesn’t chase or jump, and only goes outside when the students have recess or breaks, and is trained to relieve herself only during these times so as not to disrupt the day of learning. Nova is so well trained she even knows where her “friends” are in the school.
“It’s better with her here because when she (Nova) is here, she makes me feel happy and she calms people down,” said Kiley.
“She knows certain classrooms she knows she wants to go to because there are certain teachers who give her treats,” added Bilodeau.
The real treat though is for the students, who after the pandemic, need additional emotional support.
“It’s better with her here because when she is here, she makes me feel happy and she calms people down,” said Kiley.
And when the students are calm and feel safe, they’re ready to learn—and that’s success thanks to a rescue dog who returned the favor to Bilodeau by rescuing her students during the most difficult year yet.
